4 And when the chief 4 Και φανερωθέντος του Shepherd shall appear, ye αρχιποιμενος, κομιείσθε τον shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, αμαραντίνον της δόξης ςεφα νον. 5 Ομοιως νεωτεροι ἱποτα submit yourselves unto the γήτε πρεσβυτέροις· παντες δε elder; yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; αλληλοις ὑποτασσόμενοι, την ταπεινοφροσυνην εγκομβώσασΣε ὅτι ὁ Θεὸς ὑπερηφανοις αντιτασσεται, ταπεινοις δε δι δωσι χαριν. 6 Ταπεινώθητε ουν ύπο την κραταιαν χειρα του Θεου, ἵνα μας ύψωσῃ εν καιρῷ 7 Πασαν την μεριμναν iμων επιρρίψαντες επ' αυτον, ότι αυτῷ μελει περι ύμων. 8 Νηψατε, γρηγορησατε ότι ο αντίδικος ύμων, διαβολος, ὡς λέων ωρυόμενος, περιπατει, ζη των τινα καταπιῇ, Ver. 41. Which fadeth not away. This is an allusion to the crowns of green leaves of trees and herbs, bestowed by the ancients as the rewards of military prowess, or of victory in the games. See 1 Cor. ix. 25. note 2. These, together with the honours of which they were the symbols, soon faded away. But the crown of glory, the reward to be given to faithful shepherds, will never fade, being a crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. iv. 8. and a crown of life, James i. 12. Ver. 5.-1. For the like reason. So the word us signifies here. For the preceding, being an exhortation to the elders, to feed the flock, and not to lord it over God's heritages, the apostle could not begin his exhortation to the people with saying to them, In like manner subject yourselves to the elders: But he might say to them, with propriety, For the like reason that ye are to receive a crown of glory, subject yourselves to the elders. 2. Ye younger persons subject yourselves. As in the preceding part of this chapter the apostle by an elder, means a person holding a sacred office, such as a pastor or teacher, it is reasonable to think that he uses the word in the same sense here: Consequently, that νεωτερος which signifies an inferior of 4 And to encourage you, know that when the chief Shepherd shall apfear to judge the world, ye who have discharged your duty to your flocks faithfully, shall receive from him the crown of glory which fadeth not away. 5 For the like reason, ye the people subject yourselves to the elders, receiving their instructions and reproofs, with humility. Yea, all of you be subject to one another, in the various relations wherein ye stand to each other, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and casteth them down; but giveth the aid of his Spirit to the humble. 6 Seeing God resisteth the proud, be humbled under the strong hand of God; take his corrections patiently; that according to his promise he may exalt you to the possession of heaven in due time. 7 In your distresses, cast all your anxious care en God, (Psal. Iv. 22.) because, in the most affectionate manner, he careth for you effectually. 8 Yet do not neglect lawful means for delivering yourselves out of trouble. Wherefore, Be temperate, Be vigilant at all times, because your adversary the devil, is going about continually as a fierce lion, seeking whom he may swallow up. any kind, Luke xxii. 26. and which is opposed to it here, denotes the laity or people of the churches of Pontus, whom the apostle further exhorts to be subject to one another. 3. And be clothed with humility. Egxoubarrode. Julius Pollux, Onomast. lib. iv. c. 18. tells us that the grouμx was a white cloak used by slaves. Whitby says it was a frock put over the rest of the clothes; and that the apostle's meaning is, "that humility should be visible over all the "other Christian virtues, in our whole behaviour." Ver. 7.-1. Cast all your anxious care on him. Lest the brethren of Pen. 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afHictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us have suffered а while, ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 9 Ω αντίζητε ξέρεοι τη πιςει, ειδότες, τα αυτα των παθημάτων τη εν κοσμῳ ὑμων αδελφοτητι επιτελείσθαι. 10 Ὁ δε Θεος πασης χαριτος, ὁ καλεσας ήμας εις την αιώνιον αυτου δοξαν εν Χριςο Ιησου, ολιγον παθόντας, αυ τος καταρτισαι μας ςηρίξαι, σθενώσαι, θεμελιωσαι. 11 Αυτῳ ἡ δοξα, και το κρατος εις τους αιώνας των Αμην. αιώνων. 12 Δια Σιλουανου μιν του πίζου του πιςου αδελφου, ὡς λογι ζομαι, δι' ολιγων εγραψα, παι ρακαλών και επιμαρτυρών ταυτην είναι αληθη χαριν του Θεου εις ἣν ἑςηκατε. tus might have been too much distressed with the fears of their being reduced to want by the persecution they were suffering, and of their being tempted thereby to renounce the gospel, the apostle exhorted them to be only moderately solicitous to avoid these dangers, and to cast their anxious care on God. Ver. 8.-1. Be sober, be vigilant. This advice the apostle had given before, chap.iv. 7. (See note 2. there.) But he enforces it here by a new reason, That the devil is going about seeking whom he may swallow up: So the word καταπιη literally signifes; being used concerning solids as well as liquids. It strongly expresses the insatiable rage of the enemy of mankind to hinder their salvation, and the danger we are in from his vices. For he sometimes attacks the people of God in person though not visible; and sometimes by his ministers the other evil spirits who are in league with him; and sometimes by wicked men his subjects, whom he instigates to tempt them by the terror of persecution. This account of the devil's malice is given with great propriety by Peter, to whom our Lord said, Simon, Satan bath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I have prazed for thee. Peter likewise had good reason, as Doddridge observes, to recommend watchfulness, since he had fallen so shamefully himself, notwithstand. ing this warning from his master.-Benson by the devil understands the unbelieving Jews who persecuted the Christians with great fury. 9 Him resist, (See James iv. 7.) by being stedfast in the faith, knowing that the very same kinds of sufferings, proceeding from the devil and his instruments, which ye now sustain, are allotted to your Christian brethren who are dispersed through the world. 10 And may God the author of all goodness, who hath called us to the enjoyment of his eternal happiness by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a little, himself make you complete in the virtues, support you in the exercise of them, strengthen you to resist temptations, and settle you in the profession of the gospel. 11 To him be the glory of all perfection, and the dominion of the universe ascribed by us for ever and ever. Amen. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I conclude from the general tenor of his behaviour, I have written to you in few words, to encourage you to persevere in the belief and profession of the gospel, exhorting you and strongly testifying to you, that this is the true gospel of God in which ye stand it contains a true account of the salvation of sinners. Ver. 9.-1. Him resist, stedfast in the faith. To shew the efficacy of faith in enabling us to resist temptation, Paul calls it a shield, Eph. vi. 16. wherewith the fiery darts of the wicked one, &c. Ver. 10.-1. After ye have suffered a little. St. Peter calls the sufferings of the first Christians oxyov a little, either in respect of time or of degree; or perhaps in respect of both, because compared with the joys of heaven, the sufferings of this life are both light and momentary. Ver. 11.-1. To him be the glory, &c. By this doxology Peter expressed his firm persuasion that the devil hath no title to any honour from men, nor any dominion in the universe, nor power to tempt men, but by permission from God. Ver. 12.-1. By Silvanus a faithful inother. If Silvanus, by whom this 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 14 Greet ye one another 13 Ασπάζεται ύμας ἡ εν Βαβυλωνι συνεκλεκτη, και Μαρκος ὁ ὑιος μου. 14 Ασπασασθε αλλήλους with a kiss of charity. εν φιλήματι αγαπης. Ειρηνη Peace be with you all that ἱμιν πασι τοις εν Χριςῳ ΙηΑμην. letter was sent, is, as Oecumenius supposes, the person of that name, who joined Paul in writing the epistles to the Thessalonians, he is the Silas who is called, Acts xv. 22. A chief man among the brethren, and ver. 32. a prophet; and being Pawl's constant companion in travel, after the defection of John Mark, he no doubt assisted in planting churches in Galatia and the other countries of the lesser Asia mentioned in the inscription. So being well known to the brethren in these parts, he was a fit person to carry this letter. He is called here by Peter a faithful brother. And without doubt he must have been an excellent person, and very zealous in the cause of the gospel, who attended Paul in so many painful journeys, undertaken for the service of Christ: and who on this occasion was willing to go into Pontus, Galatia, &c. with Peter's epistle to the churches in these widely extended countries. Probably after Paul's death, Silas attached himself to Peter as his assistant, and reckoned himself much honoured by this commission to carry the apostles's letter into the lesser Asia, which he executed faithfully. 2. A faithful brother as I conclude. Peter having become intimately acquainted with Silvanus only since Paul's death, he concluded him to be a faithful brother from his having so long jointly laboured with Paul in the work of the gospel. 3. And strongly testifying. According to Bengelius the preposition in the word επιμαρτυρούμενος, is used to signify that Peter added his testimony to that of Paul and Silas, concerning the truth of the gospel which they preached to the Galatians, &c. But I think the meaning is simply, that Peter testified concerning the gospel which had been preached to the Galatians, that it is the true gospel: consequently, that the rites of the law were not necessary to salvation. : Ver. 13.-1. The church which is in Babylon. (See pref. sect. 5.) The word church is not in the original. But it is supplied in the Syriac, Vulgate, and other ancient versions, and by Oecumenius. Grotius approves of the addition and Beza observes very well that Peter omitted the word church, as is often done with regard to words of common use. But Mill and Wall think the translation should be, She who is in Babylon; and that the apostle meant his own wife; or some honourable woman in that city. Lardner says, it is not probable that Peter would send a salutation to the Christians of so many countries, from a woman not named. |
